A visitor came to the Herringbroke boys’ home by carriage with a large trunk of books. He had dark blond hair, now silvering, and fine features. One or two young ladies from the school down the street paused to admire … Continue reading →

Eljiah brushed his new small hands across the inscription on Herringbroke’s grave, and found that his fingertips fit inside the letters. He pulled them away, wondering if this strange second youth meant he’d watch twice as many friends outlive him.

Tallis turned over some papers covered in sketches and held them up to the light, one after another, while Eljiah watched, distracted from his class notes. “What are you looking for?” he asked. “Missing people,” Tallis said.

Djaren stayed up quite late cleaning up after the party. He owed it to Missus Craderly, he thought. He felt fortunate that no one had thrown up their ill-advised food combinations within the apartments. Outside was another matter and, happily, … Continue reading →

“If Mother were here, she’d have founded a charity already,” Djaren muttered. Eljiah cleared his throat. “I’d like to look in here, if it’s all right.” He stood looking up at a solidly built building double the width of most … Continue reading →

The day had decided to be one of Cambriol’s rare sunny ones, so the Tembelakan and Shandorian students had pooled their resources and spread their dinners out by the riverside on Tembelakan mats and Shandorian picnic blankets.

Djaren liked the weekly dinners at the embassy, when he got to share a table with Eljiah, Kara, the elderly ambassador, and today, Tallis. Kara sat as far from the skeletal medical student as possible, and eyed his empty plate … Continue reading →

The man who’d been following Djaren lately wasn’t visible from the dormitory window, Kara noted. He disappeared as quickly as he appeared and never entered any of the school buildings. Kara didn’t think he’d been watching Djaren for long. She’d … Continue reading →